I don't know if this has been on her ebefore or not but here it is.
I think this is on flairboat.com
Long-awaited airboat study to finally show results
By Terry Witt
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet in September to discuss a long-awaited airboat sound study, but the results will be kept under wraps until then, an FWC official said on Tuesday.
Capt. Richard Moore said a draft report of the airboat sound study is being circulated for "peer review," but the report won't be made public until Florida Atlantic University researchers reveal the study's findings Sept. 21 in St. Petersburg Beach.
FWC's seven-member board of commissioners will listen to a presentation and take public comment.
The Florida Legislature assigned FWC the job of researching airboat sound in an effort to resolve conflicts between airboat users and waterfront communities. Waterfront residents sometimes complain about excessive noise from the propeller-driven vessels.
In Citrus County, the county commission has delayed acting on an ordinance aimed at limiting vessel noise until the results of the FAU report are made public. FWC has made no promises about making a rule, but is being pressured to find a solution to the conflicts.
"There's a lot of pressure to do something. Alachua County is in the middle of this, and so is Citrus County," Moore said. "The plan is to look at the data. There will probably be a push to require mufflers on airboats as opposed to just a flex pipe. Where it goes from there I don't know."
During the study, researchers measured the sound from airboats at different distances and tested combinations of mufflers and propellers to determine if certain designs muffled noise better than others. The research also looked the distances noise travels from airboats and how the speed of the boats can affect the level of noise.
Moore said the controversy continues to build.
"I think the near-point of volatility will be at that commission meeting," he said. "I think based on the input we're getting from both sides, something is going to be done. Something needs to be done."
FAU had promised a preliminary report on the airboat study, but Moore said FWC decided not to go that route. He said a preliminary report on airboat sound had been released to airboat groups on one other occasion, and a debate erupted about how to interpret the data.
Frank Shepard, an Arbor Lakes resident who is fighting for new rules to control airboat noise, said he would be attending the Sept. 21 meeting in St. Petersburg, but questions how FWC has handled the study.
"Why has it taken so long? Why didn't we get the preliminary report and why can't the county commission do something else while they wait for the study's results?" he said.
Commissioners have agreed to Shepard's request for a Florida Attorney General's opinion on whether idle speed zones can be established for the purpose of limiting airboat noise.
Attempts to contact Citrus County Airboat Alliance President Bob Hoover and Vice President Joe Springer for comment were unsuccessful.
HAVE YOUR SAY
* The seven-member Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation board of commissioners will meet Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 21 and 22, at the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort in St. Petersburg Beach.
* The airboat study will be discussed on the first day of the meeting. The commission meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. The resort address is 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Petersburg Beach. Those wishing to speak must fill out a speaker's card when they enter the meeting room.
* FWC spokesman Henry Cabbage said the FWC board will discuss another topic before the airboat study � biodiversity goals and manatee protection zones � but he anticipates the study will come up for discussion within the first hour. The meeting is open to the public.
I think this is on flairboat.com
Long-awaited airboat study to finally show results
By Terry Witt
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet in September to discuss a long-awaited airboat sound study, but the results will be kept under wraps until then, an FWC official said on Tuesday.
Capt. Richard Moore said a draft report of the airboat sound study is being circulated for "peer review," but the report won't be made public until Florida Atlantic University researchers reveal the study's findings Sept. 21 in St. Petersburg Beach.
FWC's seven-member board of commissioners will listen to a presentation and take public comment.
The Florida Legislature assigned FWC the job of researching airboat sound in an effort to resolve conflicts between airboat users and waterfront communities. Waterfront residents sometimes complain about excessive noise from the propeller-driven vessels.
In Citrus County, the county commission has delayed acting on an ordinance aimed at limiting vessel noise until the results of the FAU report are made public. FWC has made no promises about making a rule, but is being pressured to find a solution to the conflicts.
"There's a lot of pressure to do something. Alachua County is in the middle of this, and so is Citrus County," Moore said. "The plan is to look at the data. There will probably be a push to require mufflers on airboats as opposed to just a flex pipe. Where it goes from there I don't know."
During the study, researchers measured the sound from airboats at different distances and tested combinations of mufflers and propellers to determine if certain designs muffled noise better than others. The research also looked the distances noise travels from airboats and how the speed of the boats can affect the level of noise.
Moore said the controversy continues to build.
"I think the near-point of volatility will be at that commission meeting," he said. "I think based on the input we're getting from both sides, something is going to be done. Something needs to be done."
FAU had promised a preliminary report on the airboat study, but Moore said FWC decided not to go that route. He said a preliminary report on airboat sound had been released to airboat groups on one other occasion, and a debate erupted about how to interpret the data.
Frank Shepard, an Arbor Lakes resident who is fighting for new rules to control airboat noise, said he would be attending the Sept. 21 meeting in St. Petersburg, but questions how FWC has handled the study.
"Why has it taken so long? Why didn't we get the preliminary report and why can't the county commission do something else while they wait for the study's results?" he said.
Commissioners have agreed to Shepard's request for a Florida Attorney General's opinion on whether idle speed zones can be established for the purpose of limiting airboat noise.
Attempts to contact Citrus County Airboat Alliance President Bob Hoover and Vice President Joe Springer for comment were unsuccessful.
HAVE YOUR SAY
* The seven-member Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation board of commissioners will meet Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 21 and 22, at the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort in St. Petersburg Beach.
* The airboat study will be discussed on the first day of the meeting. The commission meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. The resort address is 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Petersburg Beach. Those wishing to speak must fill out a speaker's card when they enter the meeting room.
* FWC spokesman Henry Cabbage said the FWC board will discuss another topic before the airboat study � biodiversity goals and manatee protection zones � but he anticipates the study will come up for discussion within the first hour. The meeting is open to the public.
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